L Xingwana: Majola land handover ceremony at Port St Johns

22 December 2006

Programme Director,
Ikumkani yamaMpondo,
IiNkosi zomthonyama,
MEC for Agriculture and Land, Mr Gugile Nkinti (he has asked Mr John
Allwood
to represent him as he is in Exco meeting in Port Elizabeth)
Mayor of the OR Tambo District Municipality, Ms Z Capha
Mayor of Port St Johns, Mr W Mtakathi
Chief Land Claims Commissioner, Mr Thozi Gwanya,
Commissioner for the Eastern Cape Province, Ms Linda Faleni,
Claimants from Luthengele, Machivi and Majola villages,
Distinguished guests
Halala banini bomhlaba base Majola Halala!
Phambili ngoku lima umhlaba, Phambili!
Ubuyile umhlaba Ubuyile!
Umhlaba ubuyile!
Mandiqale ndixolise.
Ngexesha endandize apha e Port St Johns ndajika endleleni ndisiza apha eMajola,
kodwa andakwazi ngenxa yokubethwa lixesha kwinthlnganiso ezazingxamisekile
ziseGoli. Kodwa ke ndacela u Commissioner uThozi Gwanya ukuba andimele, yaye
anixelele injongo zam zokufuna uphuhliso kule project yase Magwa. Wandichazela
ngenxaki zonke enamxelela zona,

* Ukususela kwixesha elide abasebenzi bengabhatalwa
* Amatyala amaninzi abeka le project yaseMajola engxakini
* Ukusolana phakathi kwe Claimants nabasebenzi
* Ukuxhaswa kwe Magwa kodwa ingancedwa iMajola.

Ndizivile zonke ezi ngxaki, kodwa olwam uncedo luxhomekeke ekuthini
sisombulule eli bango lomhlaba lase Majola.

Zininzi izizathu ebebezibeka oCommissioner u Linda Faleni ezalatha ukuthi
eli bango kufanele ukuba ligqitywe kulo nyaka uzayo. Ndithe nna unotshe,
ndifuna siyigqibe yonke into kulo nyaka. Kaloku andinaqesha. U Mongameli
akalalanga uginqe ngamadolo. Ufuna idelivery ngoku.

Namhlanje silapha sizokuthi: "Nanku lo mhlaba, ngowenu ukususela namhlanje,
Here we are today, to say 'This is your land'."

Last month I was here in the province to launch one of the most important
flagship programmes of Project GIJIMA, the ILima-Letseme campaign. During the
launch of the campaign we said to the people of Magwa: Let no land lay fallow,
let every available piece of land be ploughed to produce food for the family
and the local markets. Sithe kumaMpondo: "Learn from the concept of Ilima and
work together as a collective to eradicate poverty in the area. In the spirit
of ILima, pull your resources together and use the land optimally."

We highlighted the importance of having dedicated Champions for Ilima in the
Local Municipality in the person of the Mayor. We agreed with the MEC that he,
together with his Senior officials such as the Regional Directors Mr John
Allwood and Mr Masebeni must be the Champions of ILima. The Executive Mayor
Chapa is already the champion of food production. I want to see the champions
work together as in ILima, so that we can see our fallow crop fields green, so
that we can see our store houses full of food.

Today is an important day in the history of this region. It gives me great
pleasure to stand here on this important occasion to hands over this fertile
698 hectares (ha) of land to the rightful owners in terms of the Restitution
Act. I am happy to be here today to celebrate with you the people of Majola,
Machibi and Luthengele communities as you receive your land back. This day
marks closure to the sufferings that you endured as victims of forceful
removals by the Apartheid Government of yesterday. Like the children of Israel
who spent many years in the wilderness, let this day be like that triumphant
day when the children of Israel entered into Canaan land � a land flowing with
milk and honey. Like the Canaan land in the bible, this land is the land of
milk and honey.

I am here to say to you: make optimal use of the land, work together, work
hard and eat the good fruit of the land. There is no other 'baas' to drive you
� You are the 'baas' yourselves. Work very hard and take care of what you have.
The Government is going though great pains to give land rights back to the
people; be good stewards of this valuable and resource that we are giving to
you today.

Four hundred and Fifty hectares (450 ha) of the land that is being restored
today is used for Tea production. I am glad to hear that you the claimants have
agreed to keep it that way, and if anything to improve on it. I have also noted
that the provincial department has made a commitment to provide technical and
financial support towards the recapitalization process for the revival of the
Majola Tea Estate for the benefit of the community.

The restitution award that I am announcing here today amounts to Thirty
Three million rand (R33 607 405) A sum of fifteen million of this award will go
to financial compensation, which is Thirty Thousand rand (R30 000) to each of
the affected household. The rest will go towards sustainable development.

The need for strategic partnerships towards the success of projects such as
this one cannot be overemphasised. I have been informed about plans by the Port
St Johns and the OR Tambo Municipalities to formulate a Broad Development Plan
that will ensure that development of Majola is aligned with both
Municipalities' Local Economic Development (LED) and Integrated Development
Plans (IDPs). I am told that there are also plans for the Port St Johns
Development Agency to assist the community to develop the land that does not
fall within the Tea Estate, for other agricultural development. I have also
noted the role of the Uvimba Finance Limited to assist the community in
structuring the development plans.

The Commissioner, together with SAFM operating in Limpopo, are organising a
study tour to successful projects in Limpopo, where you will be able to learn
from other successful claimants who have received their land back. It is
important to establish those strategic partnerships, when you are dealing with
big projects as this one.

This is even more important when dealing with international markets, when
you are exporting to Europe and now to the East Asia where markets are growing
significantly.

I urge women, youth and people with disabilities in this community to play a
meaning role in the Tea and other developmental projects planned for this area.
The Government is serious about the empowerment of the vulnerable groups in
this country, and we in the department are no exceptions. We have recently
launched the Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD) which was
established to assist women with quick access to support programmes such as
Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP), the Macro Agricultural
Financial Institutions of South Africa (MAFISA), Land Bank products, and other
capacity building programmes. Work together with the leadership of WARD in this
area to strengthen your position and the role you play in the development of
your community.

I can't wait for the optimal use of our big rivers, such as Umzimvubu Basin,
for the stimulation of agricultural development in this area. I want to come
back later and see good results from this community. Let me take this
opportunity to wish you good luck with the future. I will come back, let me
find you prosperous, you have a great resource in your hands � you have land,
use it optimally.

Malibongwe!! Igama laMakhosikazi!! Malibongwe!!
Phantsi nge poverty phantsi!!
Amandla!!

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Agriculture
22 December 2006
Source: Department of Agriculture (http://www.nda.agric.za/)